Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Ngā Kupu Ora honours Pā Henare Tate

Thank you to Massey University for hosting a memorable
ceremony last Thursday to celebrate the winners of the Ngā Kupu Ora Aotearoa
Māori Book Awards.

An audience of over 180 people attended the evening in Te
Raukura Wharewaka on Wellington’s waterfront, honouring five authors in the
categories of biography, fiction, non-fiction, Māori language and the special
award.

I was proud to be there as part of the group to tautoko Pā
Henare Tate, who accepted the Non-Fiction/Te Kōrero Pono awards for his He Puna Iti i te Ao Mārama: A Little Spring
in the World of Light.

The judges described Pā’s work as “a compelling and
passionate description of the role that tikanga and kaupapa play in the
construction of a Māori Christian theological framework.”

Other winners included esteemed fiction writer Witi Ihimaera
for White Lies, and Bradford Haami for his work Ka
Mau te Wehi.

Massey has taken an important initiative with these awards,
now in their fifth year, and which aim to foster Māori literary excellence,
authorship and scholarship.

Pā Henare Tate with supporters; Sister Magdalen Sheahan (centre) was a key editor on the book.

Staff members of Massey University/Te Kunenga kiPūrehuroa in full flight